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What Am I: Atheist, Theist, or Something Else?
PJ Media ^ | October 27, 2018 | Edward K. Watson

Posted on 10/28/2017 7:22:06 AM PDT by Raymond Pamintuan

In my previous article, I originally defined atheism as “the rejection of the possibility that ‘God’ exists” because that is how I’ve understood the word from the time I spent studying theodicy (God and the problem of evil). But many “atheist” commenters disagreed with this definition because their self-designation was based on belief statements that didn’t align with my knowledge statement.

This article explains the differences between the viewpoints and the logic behind them.

Atheism is commonly called the belief that there aren’t any gods or the lack of belief in gods. But in a more accurate, philosophical sense, it is the knowledge that gods do not exist. This is easily seen by how an atheist answers the question: “Is there a God?” Belief is irrelevant to the question; knowledge is what’s important—with the only possible responses to be “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.”

Calling oneself an “atheist” is chic in our society, and conveys an air of intellectual sophistication, but many “chic atheists” describe themselves incorrectly.

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: agnosticism; atheism; religion; theism
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1 posted on 10/28/2017 7:22:06 AM PDT by Raymond Pamintuan
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

Confused....


2 posted on 10/28/2017 7:25:20 AM PDT by kjam22 (America need forgiveness from God)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

There’s more than one variety of atheism; “strong”, or “positive” atheism (I know no gods exist) vs. “weak”, or “negative” atheism (I have no belief that gods exist).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_and_positive_atheism


3 posted on 10/28/2017 7:31:05 AM PDT by Simon Green
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To: kjam22

“Is there a God?” Belief is irrelevant to the question; knowledge is what’s important—with the only possible responses to be “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.”


The author is confused.

Knowledge is belief.

The question is: is what someone states as knowledge true or not.

You cannot “know” there is not God without believing there is no God.

It is now what we do not know that harms us as much as what we do know that is not so.


4 posted on 10/28/2017 7:31:30 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

Atheists need God or else they would have nothing not to believe in.


5 posted on 10/28/2017 7:32:22 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: kjam22

Yes, definitely “something else”-—irrational. I agree, confused as well.


6 posted on 10/28/2017 7:35:15 AM PDT by alstewartfan (We have no money but we stay afloat. The Jellyfishes don't scare us. Al Stewart from Red Toupee)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan; All

That’s ok buddy God still believes in you.


7 posted on 10/28/2017 7:35:49 AM PDT by notdownwidems (Washington D.C. has become the enemy of free people everywhere!)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan
What Am I

I am a born again Christian so my faith answers all questions.

However, the question an atheist must address; are you here by plan or by accident?

8 posted on 10/28/2017 7:36:16 AM PDT by MosesKnows (Love Many, Trust Few, and Always Paddle Your Own Canoe)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

This question will be answered for everybody at some point in time.


9 posted on 10/28/2017 7:36:17 AM PDT by umgud
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To: mountainlion

Atheists need God

Otherwise their last words as the enemy overruns their fox hole or their ship sinks beneath the waves is “’Oh Random Chance!”


10 posted on 10/28/2017 7:37:19 AM PDT by silverleaf (A man who kneels for the national anthem doesn't stand for much of anything)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

What Am I: Atheist, Theist, or Something Else?

The Bible says you are a fool.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).


11 posted on 10/28/2017 7:38:51 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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To: kjam22

In the absence of the Holy Spirit all is confusion.


12 posted on 10/28/2017 7:39:44 AM PDT by Pietro
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

“God does not care what you think; he cares what you do.”

Not according to Luther.


13 posted on 10/28/2017 7:41:27 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: mountainlion
One can live his or her life saying they know or believe there is no God but at the same time behave nobly, charitably, and with great empathy towards others. If there is a righteous God who rewards the just and punishes the unjust, God should then favorably look upon that person regardless of his or her philosophical unbelief....

Similarly, there’s no eternal benefit to calling oneself a “Christian” if one lacks genuine love, charity, empathy, and compassion towards others. God does not care what you think; he cares what you do.

Hear, Hear.

14 posted on 10/28/2017 7:41:28 AM PDT by bagster (Social Culture Warrior (SCW))
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To: Raymond Pamintuan
Hmmm...just the other it was written that there's a group of scientists in Europe...IIRC,employed by the EU...who have decided that accepted scientific theories can only lead one to believe that the universe shouldn't exist.It was written that,as a result,these scientists now believe that there is some mysterious force responsible for the universe's very existence.
15 posted on 10/28/2017 7:45:02 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

I’m a non-religious theist who always treats others the way I want them to treat me.

I look with pity upon those who profess to be atheists...they walk always in darkness.

If there wasn’t [Something], then how I ask can there be anything at all!?

“Just give us one miracle and we will explain all the rest” say those who hold that the universe and ourselves amount to nothing but an accident.


16 posted on 10/28/2017 7:45:18 AM PDT by Bobalu (The NFL, Watching their demise is more fun than watching their games.)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan
"Atheism is commonly called the belief that there aren’t any gods or the lack of belief in gods. But in a more accurate, philosophical sense, it is the knowledge that gods do not exist. This is easily seen by how an atheist answers the question: “Is there a God?” Belief is irrelevant to the question; knowledge is what’s important—with the only possible responses to be “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.”

Is it me or is that the most nonsensical piece of blather currently on this board? What is his point differentiating between belief of no god or knowing there is no god. The knowledge part is impossible to prove and has no relevance to a belief, which also implies knowledge of a god. The two are unrelated in any context.

This is an educated man who is some sort of "writing" seer?...and he spends his time writing such circular nonsense? I am, therefore, I am. Or at least I believe I am, which suggests I know I am. But then, may be I'm not and exist in a computer matrix. Human senses are what some electrical neurons tell us what senses are. Pfft.

17 posted on 10/28/2017 7:46:32 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Plus LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

Serious atheists are materialists. If a non-theist hasn’t thought through things enough yet to adopt that philosophy, then perhaps they could be agnostic, but the possibilities would also include immaturity, ignorance, and laziness. I’m not a materialist.


18 posted on 10/28/2017 7:46:34 AM PDT by Religion and Politics (It's Morning in America)
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To: kjam22

That’s a LOT of drek to say “I don’t need god to be a good person”

Which completely belies and ignores the philosophy of why that statement is hubris. Without God there is no good because “good” is then subjective.


19 posted on 10/28/2017 7:47:02 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: Raymond Pamintuan

I am just a man.
God was apparent to me as a child.


20 posted on 10/28/2017 7:52:21 AM PDT by mylife (Gre)
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